The primary aim of this paper is to show that " information matters " in shaping space and cities. This statement has both theoretical and empirical foundations. Theoretical reasoning, especially on the basis of economic geography modelling, is able to provide consistent and realistic explanations for the agglomeration of information using activities including producer services and R&D. Empirical testing of these models raises a number of methodological problems. Nevertheless, many empirical studies have been conducted into the local character of the diffusion of tacit information. Over the last ten years, much progress has been made, and initial difficulties are progressively being overcome. Indirect tests afford a better grasp of both the consequences and the media of information externalities. These advances are essentially focused on one category of information externalities: the information spillovers generated and received by R&D. Most of the studies show a close link between the need for more or less tacit information exchanges and the effective proximity of actors and/or between this proximity and the production of innovation. / L'objectif de ce papier est de montrer que " l'information compte " dans la formation et l'évolution de l'espace et des villes. Cette affirmation a des fondements à la fois théoriques et empiriques. Le raisonnement théorique, particulièrement sur la base de la modélisation en économie géographique, fournit une explication cohérente et réaliste de l'agglomération d'activités consommatrices d'informations comme les services aux entreprises et la R&D. Les tests empiriques de ces modèles soulèvent un certain nombre de difficultés méthodologiques. Néanmoins, de nombreuses études ont été menées sur le caractère local de la diffusion des informations tacites. Dans les dix dernières années, de nombreux progrès ont été réalisés pour pallier ces difficultés. Des tests indirects permettent une meilleure approche des supports et des conséquences des externalités d'informations. Ces progrès se sont focalisés sur une catégorie particulière d'externalités d'informations : les spillovers de connaissance relatifs à la R&D. La plupart des études mettent en évidence un lien étroit entre le besoin d'échanger des informations plus ou moins tacites et la proximité effective des agents, ainsi qu'entre cette proximité et la production d'innovations.
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Paper provided by LATEC, Laboratoire d'Analyse et des Techniques EConomiques, CNRS UMR 5118, Université de Bourgogne in its series LATEC - Document de travail - Economie (1991-2003) with number
1999-05.
Length: 31 pages Date of creation: Mar 1999 Date of revision: Handle: RePEc:lat:lateco:1999-05
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Find related papers by JEL classification: D - Microeconomics R1 - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics - - General Regional Economics R3 - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics - - Production Analysis and Firm Location
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Glaeser, Edward L & Hedi D. Kallal & Jose A. Scheinkman & Andrei Shleifer, 1992.
"Growth in Cities,"
Journal of Political Economy,
University of Chicago Press, vol. 100(6), pages 1126-52, December.
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Edward L. Glaeser & Hedi D. Kallal & Jose A. Scheinkman & Andrei Shleifer, 1991.
"Growth in Cities,"
NBER Working Papers
3787, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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